Careless Gop Is Doing Itself In

Republicans are getting ready for their national convention July 31 in Philadelphia. The party, hoping to project an image of diversity, asked three members of Congress - one woman, one Hispanic and one African-American - to assume leadership roles during the convention. It’s a noble idea but it was overshadowed by an inexplicable move June 17 by the Washington state Republican Party.

The party passed a resolution calling for the abolition of Indian tribal governments. News of the resolution sent shockwaves through Indian groups and human rights organizations. It would be comparable, they say, to Republicans passing a resolution requiring that all African-Americans be shipped back to Africa or that all women be required to stay home.

John Fleming, the Skagit County delegate who wrote the resolution, made things worse with his comments. He said he thought the abolition of tribal governments could be done peacefully, but if not, “then the U.S. Army and the Air Force and the Marines and the National Guard are going to have to battle back.”

What is this foolishness? What century is this?

Tribes in the United States have always governed their own territory and their own affairs. The status of tribes as self-governing nations has been upheld by treaties, case law and the Constitution, according to a reporter’s guide to Native American issues titled “100 Questions, 500 Nations.” And legal scholars explain that “tribes are inherently sovereign, meaning they do not trace their existence to the United States.” (To understand more about tribes and sovereignty, the Northwest Coalition for Human Dignity is sponsoring a public meeting Sunday at 1 p.m. at The Ridpath Hotel in downtown Spokane.)

This issue is not even on the radar screen of most party members. As Republicans try to attract more women and more people of color, and to show itself to be a party of compassion, this resolution does little except alienate women and men it could be wooing instead. Some party members said the resolution passed with little discussion, because delegates were so busy. They considered 29 resolutions in two hours. They should have been more careful. Although Fleming denies he has racist intentions and says he can explain the reasoning behind the resolution, little of that reasoning will hit mainstream awareness.

What will remain is the perception that some Washington Republicans want to turn back culture’s clock and that people of color, especially Indians, need not apply.